Sanitary folding crate or coop.



W. C. HEARNE.

SANITARY FOLDING CRATE 0R COOP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1915- Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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l-I'll W. C. HEARNE.

SANITARY FOLDING CRATE on COOP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.13. I915. 1,176,055, Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. i). c.

WILLIAM C. HEARNE, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MARYLAND.

SANITARY FOLDING CRATE OR COOP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, VILLIAM C. HEARNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Dorchester and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Folding Crates or Coops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of. the invention,'such as will enable others skilled in the art to which is appertains to make and use the same.

This'invention relates to folding crates, designed for shipping poultry, but capable of other uses, and one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a crate in which the sides and ends are foldable upon the bottom and the top .member is folded down on the top of the sides and ends, and connected by latches when it is desired to return the crate to the original shipper, said crate being provided with a pair of pivoted bails, which extend around the ends of the folded crate,and extend around the top and sides of the crate when extended in condition for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sanitary folding crate which can be quickly folded for reshipment, and inwhich all the parts of the crate are connected together by hinges or pivots, so that no extraneous means or parts are required for use either when the crate is extended or collapsed.

The foregoing and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding crate made in accordance with this invention, and extended in condition for containing poultry. Fig.2 is a central longitudinal section of the same, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the crate folded together and one of the bails thrown up and disconnected from the end of the crate, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the folded crate, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view showing one of the bails thrown up into vertical position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the bottom of the crate and 2 are the longitudinal side rails connected to the bottom, one on each side. Hinged to each of the side rails 2 is the side of a crate, the hinges being indicated by the numeral 3 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Application filed February 13, 1915. Serial No. 7,996.

the sides by the numeral 41, referring to the side as an entirety. As shown, the sides are bottom transverse bars 8 are each provided with integral trunnions 11 which are pivoted to the side rails 2, thus permitting the ends to swlng up in vertical position and to be folded down against the bottom 1. Stops 12 are secured to the longitudinal bars 6 at thelr ends to prevent the ends of the crate moving outward when in upright position or swungtoo far on the pivotal points. The top comprisesthe longitudinal side bars 13, the central longitudinal bar 1 1-, and the cross slats 15 secured to the bars.

Secured to the bottom 1 are brackets 16. said brackets being angular'in form and connected by suitable fastenings 17 to the longitudinal side rails 2 and having one member extending under the bottom and secured thereto. Pivoted at 18 to each of the brackets 16 is a bail 19, said bails extending up at the sides of the crate through guldes 20, said guides being secured to the top rails 13 and being of angular form. The bails 19 slide through the guides 20 and extend across the top of the crate, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, at two points, the exact distance from the ends of the crate so that the bails may be folded down to extend around the ends when the crate is collapsed. Pivoted to the bails 19 are latches 21 which engage eyes 22 on the bottom bar 8 of the end when the crate is folded to hold the parts in collapsed condition.

Connected to the top of each of the ends in the center thereof is a pivoted key 22 adapted to pass through a slot 23 in a hinged hasp 241. The hasps 24 are connected to the underside of the end of the bar 14, and after the key has been passed through the slot 23 and turned at right angles the ends are locked in position. A door 25 is hinged at 26 to one of the cross slats 15, and is held closed by pivoted buttons or keys 27.- Openings 23 in the sides of the bottom 2fare provided for letting the water out when the crate is washed.

V] hen it is desired to fold the crate, the keys '22 areturned until the'v'are in alinement with the slots 23 in the hasps24 and the ends are'then folded down on their trunnionsll to lie flat against the bottom 1 of the crate. The side members 4 are then folded inward on top of the ends, and the :top is then pushed down on the'top of the side members, after which the bails'19 are swung on their pivotal points 18 to extend 'l around the ends of the crate when folded.

The latches 21 are then engaged with the eyes 22 and the crate is-in folded condition for shipping back to the originalsender. In extending the crate, the bails 19 are first dis-* connected by operating the latches 21, and

are then swung upward and the top is lifted and guided by the device 20,after'which tliesides are folded outward and the ends then brought intovertical position and secured by the key 22 and the hasp 24.

F roni the foregoing it will be obvious that a crate made in accordance with thls invention is complete in itself and does not require the use of extraneous means either in folding the device or after it is unfolded and ready for use. v

11. arious changes may be made in the details. of construction without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe' invention; as de-- fined in the claims.

tom and extending up at the sides of the crate bails pivoted to the and extending over the topthrough guide members, s'aid'bails adapted to be folded down over the ends of the crate when in'collapsed condition. r 7 a 2. A folding crate, comprising a bottom,

side longitudinal rails connected'to the bottom, endspivotedto the side rails, locking means for the ends, a. top,'brackets connected to the bottom andside rails, bails pivoted to the brackets and extending over the top ofthe crate, said bails adapted to be folded-down overthe ends of the crate when in collapsed condition," and latches for hold" j ing the crate folded. I I. 7 31A folding crate comprising a bottom, hinged sides, pivoted ends, a top, and pivoted bails adaptedto extend up the sides and over the top of the crate when inun folded 'condition and said bails adapted to beswungdown over'the ends of the folded crate and connected" to said ends by means of latches for holding the crate firmly in folded condition. 7 p Q 4:. A foldingcrate comprising arbottom,

sides and ends hinged to 'thelbottom, a top, f

bails pivotally connected to the bottom and extending across the top when the crate is erected, said bails being adapted to be swung to extend across the ends of the crate when by the top and embracing the sides oft'he bails, and means adapted to secure, the bails across the ends of the folded crate.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0.. V

76 the crate is folded, guide members carried 

